Monthly Archives: October 2013

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Grammy winner and 7 time Grammy nominee Paula Cole has released six solo albums spanning an eighteen year career. In April, she will release her seventh solo album titled Raven. The release comes on the 20th anniversary of her performance debut on Peter Gabriel’s ‘Secret World Live’ tour/album (1993-1994) and her solo debut Harbinger (Imago Records). With Raven, Paula returns to her Harbinger-styled, storytelling roots. Her songs ‘Life Goes On’ and ‘Eloise’ tell the tales of family, heartache, love; ‘Sorrow-on-the-Hudson’ paints the image of the river as Self; mighty, yet lonely. The anthemic ‘Strong Beautiful Woman’ is Cole’s mantra for mothers, partners and daughters. Fear and the danger of losing one’s voice in ‘Scream’ resolves in finding her voice through the cathartic writing and singing, not unlike Cole’s personal journey. Longing, sex, fantasy and feminism are all themes evoked in Raven. Paula has sold approximately three million albums and has performed with icons in many genres of music from Peter Gabriel to Dolly Parton (and many more.) Cole’s emotionally deep and thrilling performances are a trademark. Poetic and fiercely touching, intelligent writing makes Cole stand apart. Her compositions have been covered by Herbie Hancock, Annie Lennox, Katherine McPhee to name a few.

For over 30 years, Greg has been at the forefront of the singer songwriter movement. He’s an American treasure melding blues, folk, and jazz into his own unique sound. He’s still at the top of his game with his stunning new release ‘Freak Flag.’

Austin-based Hot Club of Cowtown have grown to be the most globe-trotting, hardest-swinging Western swing trio on the planet. The first American band to tour Azerbaijan, they have opened stadiums for such artists as Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson. Hot Club of Cowtown have created an international cult following for their brand of western swing. a sonic personification of joy and unique sound inspired by their namesakes: ‘Hot Club’ from the hot jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt and violinist Stephane Grappelli’s Hot Club of France, and ‘Cowtown’ from the Western swing influence of Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys.

Thorn has been pleasing crowds for years with his muscular brand of roots music – bluesy, rocking and thoroughly Southern, yet also speaking universal truths. The Tupelo, Mississippi native worked in a furniture factory, jumped out of airplanes, and was a professional boxer before sharing his experiences with the world as a singer-songwriter. Pimps and Preachers, which topped the Americana charts for three weeks and broke into the Billboard Top 100, perfectly exemplified the vivid scope of his songwriting and illuminated his family background. While his father is a Church of God Pentecostal Minister, his uncle (his father’s brother) spent time as a pimp, and Thorn was influenced by both of these men. Mining these ‘saint and sinner’ scenarios, Thorn crafted a disc that All Music Guide lauded as ‘a great rock & roll album,’ while The Nation labeled it ‘an incredible find.’

Sarah Jarosz’s music – from her own original material to her exquisite interpretations of songs by others – seems to exist outside any frame of reference, managing to weave time-honored tradition with a bold, adventurous spirit of discovery and independence. Sarah has attracted fans of folk, rock, country and old time music with her voice and multi-instrumental abilities, not only through her records, but also an aggressive touring schedule. With her first two records each earning Grammy and Americana Music Association nominations, and previously having won four Austin Music Awards, the bar is set high for this next album. One thing is for sure-it is certain to measure up to the standards that she sets for herself.

Rick Farrell of Mojo Photography has been drawn to music his entire life. Maybe it was growing up in Newport, RI, host to the venerable Jazz and Folk festivals. Or maybe it was the countless hours listening to his older siblings’ classic LP’s and 45’s on the stereo in the 1960’s. Whatever the reason, there has always been a strong connection. He had originally taken up photography as a hobby, eventually gravitating towards shooting professionally in 2007. Never knowing what his true passion or niche was, proved to be very frustrating to say the least. Then in 2009 he shot a concert, and everything seemed to click. He had discovered his passion! Concert photography! Musically, he loves everything from rock to country, jazz, r&b, pop, and classical. There is no greater feeling for him than capturing a moment on stage for others to enjoy for posterity. Whatever your taste, his goal is to provide ‘music for your eyes.’

It is a lineage of the great repertoire of The Band and how the repertoire continues to evolve with Professor Louie who co-produced and performed with The Band and the individual members for over 15 years.

The Yulegrass Band is comprised of Grammy nominated and fearlessly curious banjo player Tony Trischka; elegantly expressive violinist and vocalist Lauren Rioux; West Coast guitar master and singer Scott Law; creative and genre-hopping cellist Mike Block of Yo Yo Ma’s Silk Road Project; and exuberant bassist and former Della Mae band member Amanda Kowalski. The artists will create a memorable musical journey into the heart of the season, performing both old favorites and novel winter songs. Harmony and good fellowship will abound in the warmth of a growing tradition not to be missed.

Composer, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Taj Mahal is one of the most prominent and influential figures in late 20th century blues and roots music. Though his career began more than four decades ago with American blues, he has broadened his artistic scope over the years to include music representing virtually every corner of the world – west Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, the Hawaiian islands and so much more. What ties it all together is his insatiable interest in musical discovery. Over the years, his passion and curiosity have led him around the world, and the resulting global perspective is reflected in his music.